Sage the cat lounges in a blanket. He was later found severely tortured and died of his injuries, date and location not specified | Photo courtesy of China Cassel, St. George News

ALERT: This report includes details and visual material that may not be appropriate for all viewers. Discretion is advised.

ST. GEORGE — Members of the Clearfield community gathered Sunday afternoon to promote awareness of animal abuse and honor the life of a cat named Sage, who died Thursday after being severely tortured. A reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible has grown to $47,000.

After having gone missing for a few days, Sage reportedly returned home Wednesday morning badly beaten and abused, barely able to move. The cat suffered multiple broken bones and someone apparently applied hot glue to the animal’s eyes and genitalia.

The cat was treated but ultimately died from his injuries.

Since then, the family has received an outpouring of support from people around the world with words of support and monetary donations toward the reward fund, which has since grown substantially since its initial offering of $2,500 to $47,000.

Sage the cat shows signs of severe torture, including broken bones and hot glue applied to sensitive parts of his body before later dying, Clearfield, Utah, March 8, 2017 | Photo courtesy of China Cassel, St. George News

Over 150 people attended the candlelight vigil in a show of support for the mourning family, which included a moment of silence and an announcement by the Humane Society of Northern Utah of a new funding effort toward future animal abuse cases, according to a report by Fox 13 News.

While the case remains the subject of investigation by Clearfield Police, anyone with information may call Davis County Animal Services at 801-444-2200 or John Fox, Humane Society of Utah chief investigator, at 801-261-2919 ext. 210.

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About the Author

Joseph Witham is a Utah Valley University graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication. He loves the Utah outdoors scene and is likely to be found camping or hiking in any one of the state's epic landscapes on a given weekend. He is equally passionate about writing and was published in various news media, including The Daily Herald in Utah County, before joining St. George News.

9 Comments

I just don’t understand how anyone could do that to a sweet kitty. A person who can do that to an animal would have no problems doing that to a child. I hope they catch him/her before they strike again!

Out of sight out of mind. There are plenty of sadistic psychopaths out there. I wish people wouldn’t let cats roam or be an “outdoor cat”. Your pet likely won’t live a long life and felines are terribly destructive to wildlife. Cats should be killed humanely; there’s just no reason to make an animal suffer. This may well become the world’s most expensive house cat, so let’s hope they catch the perp. But let’s be real, even if caught he’ll do a minimal amount of jail or get a slap on the wrist, and in a few years will likely be doing this to people. You actually can’t fix sociopathy; it’s a defect of the mind.

A sizable amount of the reward money should be set aside to purchase the cheapest and least nutritional of cat food and have it served 24/7 to the dirt-bags that mutilated the cat. The owner(s) loved that little guy – and it loved them in return – many times over I’m certain. Bon Appetite!!

Child abusers and murders started with abusing animals at a young age. And while they got away with it they went on to abuse children, then adults. Then when they got away with it then and had the adult victim so intimidated and manipulated they went on to others and killed them while still abusing their partner. Eventually they end up either killing their partner or they luckily get caught first. But again it all starts with animal abuse at a young age so this person or persons needs to be caught immediately!!! JS